As a benefits adviser, who has worked at Citizens Advice Bureaus and mental health charities, I have seen the issues that people face on a daily basis.

Being on benefits can exacerbate the mental health problems people are already suffering from or even bring them on.

If somebody gets made unemployed, it’s quite easy for problems to spiral. Then other issues involving alcohol and drugs can manifest themselves.

Debt, anxiety and depression

Having a low income causes debt, anxiety and depression – even if physical problems were the reason for the claim in the first place. Rent and Council Tax debt among those on benefits has made this worse.

Attending assessments is traumatic for many people. Assessors are not skilled in everything. Sometimes people with a mental health problem are made to see a dietitian or a physiotherapist, for example, which is not appropriate.

People are struggling every day. I can see it. I can see people being affected by the system and then it impacting on their mental health.

‘Brown envelope syndrome’

For some claimants, it means they’re not dealing with what they need to deal with.

Entitlement reviews are unnecessary for many and lead to “brown envelope syndrome”.

Gary Martin says he would like to see joined up thinking between the welfare system and the NHS (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

People look at the envelope from the Department for Work and Pensions and they just don’t open it because they think it’s going to contain bad news. That’s when they miss out on filling in a form for renewal or a decision on their benefits.

People don’t like filling in forms. People with mental health problems won’t fill in the questions correctly, for many reasons. They understand their problems but they’re not going to put it down on paper. If someone has schizophrenia or depression or anxiety, no one wants to admit it.

If you don’t fill in the form, you get a letter saying you haven’t filled in the form, you haven’t returned it, you’ve got five days to tell us why and if you don’t do it then your benefits stop. If you’re Employment and Support Allowance stops, somewhere down the line it will trigger Housing Benefit and Council Tax reductions to stop.

The knock-on effect is more stress.

Go under a duvet

Everything spirals. People I’ve worked with over the years have gone into a spiral. They go under a duvet and just sit there for a week.

If you give people the ability to get help with their benefit forms then the benefits system will work more effectively. The problem is due to Government cuts over the years. This isn’t an anti-Tory thing, this was going on under Labour.

You can’t get help to fill in a benefits form. It’s really difficult. More difficult than getting a GP appointment.

I do feel Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre staff could do more to help, but perhaps they have workplace stress too – as do many front line workers.

Job cuts and increasing workloads all play a part. Sick leave rates are high due to stress.

Clearly the benefits system is failing people with mental health problems all the time. It doesn’t support them to deal with their mental health problems, to enable them to go into voluntarily work or part time work.

I’d like to see joined up thinking within the welfare system and the NHS.

As told to Serina Sandhu

The DWP said: “We are committed to supporting those with physical and mental health conditions, spending £55 billion this year alone.

“Work Capability Assessments are carried out by qualified health professionals, who are given specific training in assessing individuals with mental health conditions.

“With Universal Credit, work coaches tailor support to people’s individual needs, including pausing the requirement to look for work and signposting them to expert organisations. Our ‘Help to Claim’ partnership with Citizens Advice offers additional tailored support.”

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